Hi all
What a great forum.
I wonder if anyone could recommend where to hire a touring bike/ moutain bike in Melbourne.
I will be touring Tasmania in February for three weeks and as I am travelling from Scotland I dont want to bring my bike with me. Any sugesstion greatly appreciated
Thanking you in advance
Very best regards
Allister

I see you didn't get a reply to your question. Sorry we couldn't help out.

It seems that hiring a a bike in Australia is such a rare occurance and no businesses I know of do it. The standard response here in the past has been to suggest you buy a used bike and sell it when you leave (or bring your own one with you ....)

Anybody here in Oz want to start a business? We get enough enquiries on this site that I'm sure a business would find its feet - you'd be the only one on the whole country hiring bikes for touring!

Kalgrm wrote:Anybody here in Oz want to start a business? We get enough enquiries on this site that I'm sure a business would find its feet - you'd be the only one on the whole country hiring bikes for touring!

I get a lot of enquiries off of my web site as well regarding this. I also get a lot of enquiries about when we are running another south west tour?

The touring bike hire thing may be a possibility here in the west, but I know from a couple of years ago that they were able to be hired. The place no longer exists.

As for the eastern states, I know nothing.

The problem I have found in possibly hiring them, is buying them in the first place. We need to be able to buy touring bikes before we can hire them.

From initial enquiries, we need to buy 10 at least otherwise they won't sell them to us.

these guys http://www.rentabike.net.au/ apparently offer Gitane MTBs for hire, as well as "touring bikes with panniers and lights if you want to head off overnight "Around the Bay" down the Great Ocean Road or beyond."

don't know much about them, just remembered seeing an ad in a tourist brochure somewhere. might be something to look into. i might stop by one day when i have more time, just to see what' they're all about.

also, even if it's a slim chance, consider packing your bike, if you don't mind subjecting it to airline baggage handling, it may be comparable in price depending on how long you'll need to hire the bike for. plus it'll be a guaranteed comfy ride.

Edit:
- for Melbourne, you're looking at the Dockland's store, if you were confused.
- You probably want to ring/email ahead about taking it to Tassie, see what they think about it.

Also, http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-and-riding/10978/ has the above listed, as well as a link to shops which apparently do hire. Again, ring/email ahead and see if they don't mind you taking it over the Bass and out of state.